Investigatation the effects of labour migration on fatherhood and household leadership on migrant workers from Tugela Ferry, Kwa-Zulu Natal

Labour migration of Black African fathers led to a situation where they were separated from their families due to working arrangements in distant places and on terms of migrant contracts that permitted only annual visits to their families. This resulted to fathers being absent from their homes, and in South Africa, cultural norms regarding the timing of household formation and the need for men to migrate for employment are major high factors contributing to the high percentage of fathers who do not reside with their children. The absence of fathers in South Africa has been constructed as problematic for children of both sexes, and almost two decades of democracy have seen the number of children living without their fathers is on the increase. Statistics showing the increasing number of children living without their biological fathers result in weakened families. The proposed study will adopt a qualitative approach with an exploratory design on labour migration and the effects it has on fatherhood and household headship. Participants to be involved in this study are men between the ages of 25- 50 years and above who live and work in Johannesburg and are originally from rural KwaZulu–Natal. The study will utilise interview as a data collection method and the raw data will be analysed through thematic data analysis. The anticipated value of the findings is that the study will provide an understanding concerning the experiences of men who live away from their families for extended periods of time. Key word: labour migration, household headship, fatherhood, men’s experiences, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaGR201